Preparation of lead-free nanoglass frit powder for crystalline silicon solar cells

Nanosized Bi-based glass frit powders for silver front contact in crystalline silicon solar cells were prepared from a multicomponent gel in the Bi2O3–SiO2–B2O3–Al2O3–ZnO system. The phase structure of the glass frit was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), which indicated that the xerogel was completely converted into amorphous glass after heat treatment at 500 °C. The glass frit showed excellent wetting behavior and etching effect on SiNx coating and silicon. The fabricated silicon solar cells containing the as-prepared nanosized glass frit as an inorganic binder showed higher fill factor (FF) and photoelectric conversion efficiency (Eff) when compared with those of the solar cells based on micron glass frit prepared by melt cooling route.

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► Nanosized Bi-based glass frit powders for crystalline silicon solar cells were synthesized by sol–gel method.
► The glass frit powders showed excellent wetting behavior and etching effect on SiNx coating and silicon.
► The fabricated solar cells containing the glass frit powders showed good electrical properties.